United States
Macalester College
Funding
Macalester awards competitive need-based aid to international students and also automatically considers international applicants for the limited Charles J. Turck Presidential Honor merit scholarship. International need-based aid is very competitive and a full ride is not guaranteed; packages may include an expected paid campus-work amount or an international student loan. Students must request aid at initial admission application; Macalester cannot later award it after admission/enrollment.
Eligibility
Selectivity context: Highly selective. Bangladeshi international first-year applicants may apply via Common App. SAT/ACT and English proficiency test submissions are optional. Students seeking need-based aid must submit BOTH (1) 2027-28 CSS Profile OR free Macalester International Student Application for Financial Assistance (ISAFA) if CSS fee is burdensome, and (2) Macalester Financial Declaration Form in the applicant portal. Macalester does not issue CSS fee waivers for international students; application is not reviewed until both aid forms are submitted.
Deadlines
Fall 2027 first-year admissions: ED I and EA November 1, 2026; ED II January 1, 2027; RD January 15, 2027. Macalester INTERNATIONAL aid page lists ED I/EA November 10, 2026, ED II January 8, 2027, and RD January 22, 2027 for CSS/ISAFA plus declaration. Some general (primarily domestic) aid pages show November 9 for EA/ED I; international applicants should prioritize the international page and check their own applicant checklist.
What Macalester College needs for Fall 2027
Draft research from official pages (checked 14 Nov 2026). Not yet verified by a bdesh editor — confirm every date and prompt on the official page. 6 details still being checked.
Rounds and deadlines
| Round | Application | Financial aid | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision Ibinding | 1 Nov 2026 | 9 Nov 2026 | 2026-12-06 |
| Early Action | 1 Nov 2026 | 9 Nov 2026 | 2026-12-19 |
| Early Decision IIbinding | 1 Jan 2027 | 8 Jan 2027 | 2027-01-31 |
| Regular Decision | 15 Jan 2027 | 22 Jan 2027 | 2027-03-14 |
Essays and short answers
Optionaloptional; may answer either or both Macalester prompts
Macalester is one of the few highly selective liberal arts colleges located in the heart of a metropolitan area. Identify one way Macalester's location in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul would enhance your academic, social, or community experience.
Optionaloptional; may answer either or both Macalester prompts
Four values guide Macalester's mission: academic distinction, internationalism, multiculturalism, and service to society. Guided by these values, Macalester is a learning environment that affirms different identities and experiences and prepares graduates to work toward a more just and peaceful world. In what ways do your lived experiences, perspectives, or hopes for your college education connect with Macalester's mission and community?
Testing
- SAT/ACT optional
- English tests: TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, InitialView, Vericant
- English proficiency evidence is optional but recommended if first language is not English and fewer than two years in a primarily English-taught curriculum. No minimum scores listed.
Recommendations · Interview
- counselor + 1 teacher
- Interview: Optional
- Application fee: No fee · Apply through Common App
Financial aid for international students
- Need-aware for international applicants
- ✓ Meets full demonstrated need
- Forms: CSS Profile or 2027-2028 ISAFA (International Student Application for Financial Assistance), Macalester Financial Declaration Form
- Documents: CSS Profile or ISAFA; Macalester Financial Declaration Form
Aid must be requested at application; no aid can be awarded after admission. Macalester says 'Financial need also plays a role in admission decisions' (need-aware) and is committed to meeting the full demonstrated need of every enrolling student; visa fees and some other costs are not covered. Macalester notes ED can give international students needing large aid a small edge.
Official pages used
- www.commonapp.org/explore/macalester-college
- www.macalester.edu/admissions/deadlines/
- www.macalester.edu/admissions/international/first-year/
- www.macalester.edu/financial-aid/apply/international/
- www.macalester.edu/admissions/international/faq/
- www.macalester.edu/admissions/us-admissions/first-year/